Meter mount



March 10, 1953 H JENSEN 2,631,210

METER MOUNT Summer attorney Fig. 3.

March 1o, 1953 H JENSEN 2,631,210

METER MOUNT Original Filed April 11, 1945 Z SHEET-S-Sl-IEET 2 F135. Figi. 1.3 74 11o Ul 74 12 73 14 a2 sa 1o l ylin Gttorneg Patented Mar. 10, 1953 METER MOUNT Helge Jensen, Flushing, N. Y., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Federal Electric Products Company, Newark, N. J.

Original application April 11, 1945, Serial No. 587,808. Divided and this application October 12, 1950, Serial No. 190,570

" current responsive devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a panel for a plurality of metered lines, the panel having provision for mounting a plurality of meters for said lines in alignment in a row and for mounting current responsive devices for said lines, respectively, at one end of the row of meters, the arrangement being such that the several conductors in the panel extend longi-r. tudinally of the panel without crossing each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel unit which can be used alone or which can be assembled with one or more similar units, each unit having means for mounting current responsive devices for the metered lines, respectively, at one end of the row of meters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a meter panel or panel unit .having .one or more meter sockets and associated current disconnect means, respectively, with means accessible through the meter sockets for connecting the outgoing lines without requiring access to the disconnect devices.

The above and other objects, advantages and'.

features of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a meter panel assembly embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view, in elevation and on a larger scale, of the upper portion of a panel unit;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with parts omitted for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View, on a larger scale, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front view of one of the terminal,-

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, on

the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l0 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a terminal block and a companion meter terminal member in position;

2 Fig. 11 is a detailed sectional view H-Ii of Fig. 10. f

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a meter panel assemblyj embodying the present invention. Said assembly comprises a plurality of panel units l2 arranged in side by side relation in association with a supply line trough M disposed therebelow, with a service switch box l5 mounted on trough I4, and with a load side Dull box I8 mountedatthe upper ends of said panel units. The supply. lines for the several panel units are disposed and enclosed within trough I4 for connection tothe branch bus lines 20 and 22 in each panel unit. Said branch lines extend longitudinally of the panel unit and have connected thereto the meter socket input terminals which engage the input terminals of the meter when the latter is mounted in its socket. v

Referring now more particularly ,to the construction of the meter panel unit I2, the latter comprises a metal receptacle having arearwall 24, opposite side walls 26, an upper end wall 28, and a lower end wall St. The front ormeter mounting wall of panel unit I2 is constituted by a plurality of cover plates 32 disposed in end to end relation along the length of the panel unit, each cover plate 32 having secured'to its inner surface a part 34 which projects from the lower end thereof and is overlapped by the upper end. of the next lower plate for the full width thereof. Each cover plate has inturned side portions 36 which overlap the forward inwardly offset portions 3B of the side walls 26 of the panel unit (Fig. 9). Each cover plate 32 is provided with a meter socket i0 and an opening 42101' disconnect means, said last mentioned opening having a scalable cover d pivotally mounted vat one end thereof on its companion cover plate 32. Each meter socket l0 is provided with a fixed strap 46 by which said cover plate is secured to the panel unit.

Panel unit l2 is provided with .pairs of companion cross straps 48 and 50 disposed in vertically spaced relation at points longitudinally of the panel unit, there being a pair of straps 48 and 59 for each meter socket 40. AAs illustrated in Fig. 9 each strap 50 is secured at its opposite ends to side walls 26 of the panel unit receptacle. Each strap 48 is similarly secured at its opposite ends to walls 2li. Strap 48 hassecured thereto an insulation block 52 provided with clip terminals 54 for engagement by the input terminals of .the meter when the latter is mounted in its socket. Said block 52 is secured in position to strap 48 by a bolt 5S which passes through an opening 58 in said block and through -on rthev line an opening S in strap 46 of socket 4d, where the nut 62 of bolt 56 engages said strap for holding the latter against insulation block 52. The branch :buses .Zand 22 are electrically connected to terminal `cli-ps 'E4 by conductor members es. It will be understood that the terminal clips 54 of the several meter sockets are all in parallel relation with the branch buses 2d and 22. t will be observed that branch buses 2li and 22', which extend longitudinally of the panel unit receptacle, are disposed rearwardly of straps 48 and 50 and are connected to the' clips 54'01"v `terminal block 52 by forwardly projecting conductor strips 64. The other cross strap-15.@ of each pairofmoss.

Vspringterminal clips 'm lwhich are engaged by the output terminals of the meter mounted in the companion socket. The upper end of block -68. is 'provided with a pair of separated recesses 12 in which the disconnect means le', one for eachV side of the companion metered line, are disposed. As illustrated in` Fig. 4, recesses i2 are disposedin alignment with the opening dii provided inthe companion cover plate 32' and are .covered nya scalable closure '44. The disconnect means 14 are connected to terminal cli-ps it by conductorstrips 'l'which project through open- .ings 18: in the barrier wall 80. Strips it thus eX- tcnd -from one side of the barrier wall to the other. `A Vscrew 11 secures one end of said strip and terminal clip to each other and to block 5.6, When. terminal block 63 isin position the reduced end 82 .of barrier wall V8%) extends into -opening 42 Vand prevents access to the disconnect means in ,recesses 12.

The `disconnect means 74 for each side of the .companion metered line comprises a screwthreaded stud 84 which is electrically connected to lthe conductor `strip 16 and also secures the .adjacent endothereof tothe terminal .block 58. A terminal: strip` 8.6 'has Yan offset end portion :.81 provided with anopening 88 (Fie. 8,) through which stud B4projects, opening `88 having a larger diameter thanthat of -studr84 so that it does not have .anelectric connection directly with .said stud. Strip 8 6 .is insulated fromstrip le. by a .layer 90 of insulation material. A nut .32 is threaded .on stud 84 and Vis engaseable with strip .86.for vmaking and Vbreaking an electrical connection between strip .86 vandstudjil'.tlfiereby to make .and break an. electrical connection between strip .8.5 andstripl. Strip 36 is thus connected'in series relation with a companion terminal l0 under the control V.of the disconnect umeans just described. Testing terminals 93 are screwed into companion strips 86 and thus secure said vstrips .to the terminal blockin engagementiwith the face `ofsaid block. Strip '8B lextends through an opening 9.4 `in theadjacent outer end of `barrier wall fandisintegral with a downwardly extending lconductor strip portion 96 which isconnected to a terminal member 9,8 provided with a conductor -.clamping screw |00. Terminal member .90 and the lower end ,of lconductor strip .96 are secured'to block V66 by a screw |02.. It will be observedthat terminals k98 .of each terminal .block '65 are located at the companion meter socket andare accessible therethrough, when the meter is .dsmonnted from its socket, whereby it is unecessary, ashere tofore, to open or unseal closure 44 of the disconnect means in order to obtain access .to the terminals of the disconnect means to attach the outgoing lines thereto.

Terminal block SB is provided with ain opening `M14 for the vpassage therethrough of a bolt |06 for securing said terminal block to supporting strap 50. Said bolt also extends through strap 46 of, the meter socket and is provided with a nut |08 which is tightened against the front surface of 4said strap whereby said bolt clamps terminal .blockfi in pos'ition and additionally secures plate 32 and the meter socket carried thereby to the panel unit. The intermediate wall portion ||0 formed between recesses 'l2 separates the disccnnectmeans insaid recesses, respectively, from eachother, said Wall portion extending `to the bottom of said recesses, and a barrier i2 formed on said block centrally thereof separates the two conductor strips lfrom each other.

Each lpanel unit lhas provision. for vmounting current responsive means in a compartmenti-M at the upper end of the panel unit receptacle whereby the current responsive devices are 'located in line with and at one` end of the rowA of meters of the-panel unit. Said compartment is formed between theupper end wall 28 and -a partition wall H6 fixed to the rear wall 24 and vto .the opposite side Walls vof the `panel unit receptacle. The current responsivemeans may/comprise any lsuitable devices. ln the panel vunit illustrated herein provision is made for utilizing fuses as the current responsive devices as 'indicated bythe fuse sockets H8, one .for 'each .of the metered lines. ASaid fuse sockets are provided Ain an insulation block |20 vmounted' iny compartment H4. Said block '|20 .is secured' to rear wall 24 by screws |22V which pass. .through-said block from y.the front thereof and through spacing members |24 andare threaded into .therear .wall 24. A metal .cover plate |26 is secured tothe front of block |20 by nuts |,28fthreaded on the forward-endsofscrews |30 which project through block |20 from the back to the front thereof. Plate |26v is provided with an opening |32 for access to the fuse .sockets in block |20. Said plate has forwardly bentY side portions |34 which engage the opposite side walls 26, respectively, of the panel unit receptacle. Cover plate |26 closes the front of the compartment but-permits access to the fuse sockets. .A cover |36` is prov1ded foreach compartment H4, said'coverbeing pivoted at its-.forward edge to upper-end wall 28.

It will be observed that terminals 98 are located atthe front of straps 48 and 50 so that the conductors connected to said terminals and'leading to .the current responsive devices in compartment I |4zare .separated by-said` straps Yfrom the branchbus barsor supply conductors 20 and 22. More particularly, as here illustrated', Ia* line |33 leadsfromxone terminal '98 of each terminal block 66 to a companion terminal |40 of a fuse socket. Lines |38 pass through an opening |42 l1n partition Wall H6. The other .terminal |44 of each fuse socket has connected thereto a line |4c which passes through an opening |43 pro vided in upper end wall 23, said last mentioned line passing directly or through box lt'for connection to the consumers translating devices. The other side |39 of the metered line passes through'openings |52 and |50inend`wall 2.8 and partition wall H6, respectivelyand .isrconnected to the other terminal B8 'of the companion terminal block 66.

It will be understood that' the meter panel' can ,Y consist of one receptacle unit I2, which as here shown has a capacity of four metered lines, but

l which can have a smaller or a larger capacity, or

Thus the capacity of the panel illustrated is 24V metered lines, there being 12 metered lines in each group and four metered lines in each panel unit. It is important to note that all ofthe metered lines in the panel units extend in the same direction, that is, longitudinally of their respec` tive panel units and do not cross each other.

The panel units can be connected to each other in any sutable way as by riveting the side walls to each other preferably at the points to which the ends of straps 48 and 50 are secured to the side walls of their companion panel unit receptacle as indicated at |54 in Fig. 9. Thus, the panel units can be supplied by the manufacturer either individually or in groups of two or more connected to each other in unitary relation. It Will be understood that each panel unit or a group of connected panel units can be provided with any suitable means for fastening said panel units to a support.

Thus, it is seen that the panel construction hereinbefore described is well adapted to accomplish the several objects of the present invention. It will be understood, however, that while I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention the latter may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and it will also be understood that in the above described construction certain changes in the details and in the arrangement of parts may be made and will occur to skilled artisans in View of the present disclosure. Therefore, I do not with to be limited to the specific construction disclosed herein except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

This application is a division of my application for Meter Mounts, Ser. No. 587,808, filed April 11, 1945.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an electric-meter panel, a terminal block comprising a body of insulation material, meter terminals carried by said body, disconnect means carried by said body in spaced relation to said terminals, a barrier between said disconnect means'and said terminals, electrical conductors passing through said barrier and connecting said terminals'to said disconnect means, additional terminals carried by said block at the same side of said barrier as said meter terminals, said additional terminals and said meter terminals being closely adjacent to each other, and electrical conductors passing through said barrier and connecting said additional terminals to said disconnect means in series relation with said meter terminals.

2. In an electric-meter panel, a terminal block comprising a body of insulation material, meter terminals carried by said body at one side thereof, disconnect means carried by said body in spaced relation to said terminals at the other side of said body, said terminals being disposed laterally of said disconnect means, respectively, a barrier between said disconnect means and said terminals, electrical conductor strips passing through said barrier and extending laterally of said disconnect means, respectively, to connect said disconnect means and said terminals, respectively, additional terminals carried by said block at the same side of said barrier as said meter terminals and disposed laterally thereof, respectively, said additional terminals and said meter terminals being closely adjacent to each other, and electrical conductor strips passing through said barrier and disposed laterally of said rst mentioned conductor strips, respectively, to connect said additional terminals to said disconnect means in series relation with said meter terminals.

3. In an electric-meter panel, a terminal block comprising a body of insulation material, meter terminals carried by said body at one side thereof. disconnect means carried by said body in spaced relation to said terminals at the other-side of vsaid body, said terminals being disposed laterally nals, electrical conductor strips passing through said barrier and extending laterally of said disconnect means, respectively, to connect said disconnect means and said terminals, respectively, additional terminals carried by said block at the same side of said barrier as said meter terminals and disposed laterally thereof, respectively, said additio-nal terminals and said meter terminals being closely adjacent to each other, and electrical conductor strips passing through said barrier and disposed laterally of said first mentioned conductor strips, respectively, to connect said additional terminals to said disconnect means in series relation with said meter terminals, said disconnect means being separated by a portion of said body adjacent said barrier.

4. In an electric-meter panel, a terminal block comprising a body of insulation material, meter terminals carried by said body at one side thereof, disconnect means carried by said body in spaced relation to said terminals at the other side of said body, said terminals being disposed laterally of said disconnect means, respectively, a barrier between said disconnect means and said terminals, electrical conductor strips passing through said barrier and extending laterally of said disconnect means, respectively, to connect said disconnect means and said terminals, respectively, additional terminals carried by said block at the same side of said barrier as said meter terminals and disposed laterally thereof, respectively, said additional terminals and said meter terminals being closely adjacent to each other, and electrical conductor strips passing through said barrier and disposed laterally of said first mentioned conductor strips, respectively, to connect said additional terminals to said -disconnect means in series relation with said meter terminals, said disconnect means being separated by a portion of said body adjacent said barrier, and a barrier extending between said rst mentioned conductor strips from a point on said iirst mentioned barrier adjacent said portion.

5. In an electric-meter panel, a terminal block comprising a body of insulation material, meter terminals carried by said body, disconnect means carried by said body in spaced relation to said terminals, a barrier between said disconnect means and said terminals, electrical conductors passing through said barrier and connecting said terminals to said disconnect means, additional terminals carried by said block at the same side of said barrier as said meter terminals, and electrical conductors passing through said barrier and connecting said additional terminals to said disconnect meansf in series relation withsaid meter Aterminals, and testing terminals carried by said lattereleetrical conductors, respectively, said meterterminals comprising spring terminal clips.

6. A-terminal block for an electric-meter panel, said block -comprising'a body of insulation materiahsaid-body having a pair of separated recesses denedtherei-n adjacent one .end thereof, a barrier'extendingrabout said recesses, `and an additional barrier` extending from said first mentioned barrier towardthe other end of said body substantially centrallyv thereof,A said first mentioned barrier having dened therein openings Whiclr.communicaten with said recesses, respectively, `for the passagev of electrical conductors through said rst mentioned barrier.

7'. Aterminaliblockvfor'anYelectric-rneterrpanel, said block. comprising-a body of. insulationimaterial, said body having a pair of separated. recesses dened-therein adjacent one end thereof andex` tending transverselyr of said body, a barrier extending about said recesses, and an additional barrier extendingrlongitudinally froma point on said rst vmentioned barrier intermediate saidrecesses toward the other en-d of said body substantially centrally thereof, said first mentioned barrier havingdefinedtherein atleastone opening on each side of sadpoint in communication with said recesses, respectively, for the .passage of electrical conductors through said irst, mentioned barrier.

HELGE J ENSEN.'

REFERENCES CITED Theziollowing references are of record in the le'ofjthis patent:

ANumber Name Date 1,964,385 Lewis July 3, 1934 250155,503 A Dwens Mar. 31, 1936 20- 2,081,101 Blakeslee May 18, 1937 2,588,558 Mosirnann -l Mar. 11, 1952 

